James Upton is a tile nerd.
For starters, he has over 25 years of tile installation experience. Further, in 2009, during the recession, he opened Tiger Mountain Tile Inc, an Issaquah-based business focused on bathroom remodeling and tile installation.
In 2024, he expanded his local business to include expert tile inspection and consulting work.
His certifications and training include:
- CTI Certified Tile Installer from Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF)
- NTCA Technical Committee which writes and edits the Reference Manual
- Ceramic Tile Inspection Course from CTEF
- Industry training with gauged porcelain tile panels, large format tile, and substrate preparation
- Product-specific manufacturer training from Ardex, Custom Building Products, Laticrete, Schluter, and Wedi.
- Sandler Sales Training
In addition to being featured in TileLetter Magazine in 2021, he has been quoted or credited in publications like The Washington Post, This Old House, and Family Handyman.
He shares his industry knowledge and experience in his blog, DIYTileGuy, which focuses on helping DIYers achieve successful tile installations.
When this tile nerd gets a break from his industry, he enjoys a bit of traveling and the outdoors.
